Permission denial: Can't access the SurfaceFlinger

Question

I get this error when running my app. I also included the permission for surfaceFlinger in manifest.xml

"uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_SURFACE_FLINGER"

but still it give the same error " can't access the SurfaceFlinger" in LogCat.

Basically i want to run the Development setting code in Dev tools.

public void onCheckedChanged(CompoundButton buttonView, boolean isChecked) {
    try {
        Class partypes[] = new Class[1];
        partypes[0] = String.class;
        Method getService= ServiceManager.getMethod("getService", partypes );
        Object arglist[] = new Object[1];
        arglist[0] = "SurfaceFlinger";
        IBinder flinger= (IBinder)getService.invoke(smObject, arglist );

  //    IBinder flinger = ServiceManager.getService("SurfaceFlinger");
        if (flinger != null) {
            Parcel data = Parcel.obtain();
            data.writeInterfaceToken("android.ui.ISurfaceComposer");
            data.writeInt(isChecked ? 1 : 0);
            flinger.transact(mCode, data, null, 0);
            data.recycle();

            updateFlingerOptions();
        }
    } catch (RemoteException ex) {
    } 
**catch (SecurityException e) {
        // TODO Auto-generated catch block
        String err=e.toString();
        Toast.makeText(DevelopmentSetting.this, err, Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
    }**

    catch (NoSuchMethodException e) {
        // TODO Auto-generated catch block
        e.printStackTrace();
    } catch (IllegalArgumentException e) {
        // TODO Auto-generated catch block
        e.printStackTrace();
    } catch (IllegalAccessException e) {
        // TODO Auto-generated catch block
        e.printStackTrace();
    } catch (InvocationTargetException e) {
        // TODO Auto-generated catch block
        e.printStackTrace();
    }
}
}

In catch SecurityException it gives the error java.lang.securityException but logcat it says permission denied : can't access surfaceFlinger.

and the manifest.xml is here

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    package="com.nustian.android"
    android:versionCode="1"
    android:versionName="1.0" >

    <uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="10" />
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_SURFACE_FLINGER"/>

    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.SET_WALLPAPER"   />
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_PHONE_STATE"/> 

    <application
        android:icon="@drawable/ic_launcher"
        android:label="@string/app_name" >

        <activity
            android:name=".DevelopmentSetting"
            android:label="@string/app_name" >

            <intent-filter>
                <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
                <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
            </intent-filter>
        </activity>

    </application>
</manifest>

Somebody help me.

please post the full exception. – MahdeTo Apr 16 '12 at 06:29 — MahdeTo, Apr 16 '12 at 06:29

score 4 · Answer 1 · answered Sep 20 '13 at 13:59

4

Your app needs to be signed with the platform certificate to access this permission. Only system apps generally have this. More info here:

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/android-porting/aN6D_vL9xxE

answered Sep 20 '13 at 13:59

Christopher Fraser

511
5
6

score 3 · Answer 2 · answered Jul 13 '14 at 05:28

3

As a workaround, add this to your manifest file. UID media is able to use the surface flinger APIs, so sharing UID with it will allow your app to use it as well.

  coreApp="true"
  android:sharedUserId="android.uid.media"

answered Jul 13 '14 at 05:28

user3791871

31
2

Worked for me... where my app is a system app. – benchuk Jun 28 '15 at 12:24
1

This approach does not work for me, ... I get an INSTALL_FAILED_SHARED_USER_INCOMPATIBLE installation error. – ergohack May 10 '20 at 01:11

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Apr 16 '12 at 06:51

0

Don't forget to add its relative permission:

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_SURFACE_FLINGER" />

answered Apr 16 '12 at 06:51

waqaslam

67,549
16
165
178

1

I added the relative permission but still it gives SecurityException error. – user1335632 Apr 16 '12 at 10:12
1

you should always include error stack too. otherwise no one can figure out what could be wrong... – waqaslam Apr 16 '12 at 10:27
paste your entire AndroidManifest.xml – waqaslam Apr 17 '12 at 10:03

Permission denial: Can't access the SurfaceFlinger

3 Answers3

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